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Two victories in the GT World Challenge Europe: Charles Weerts and Kelvin van der Linde unbeatable.
19.07.2026Press Release
+++ Charles Weerts and Kelvin van der Linde win both sprint races at Misano in the #32 BMW M4 GT3 EVO of Team WRT. +++ Weerts/van der Linde take over the lead in the Sprint Cup standings. +++ Local hero Valentino Rossi claims Saturday’s pole position; the #46 BMW M4 GT3 EVO finishes sixth and fourth in the races. +++ Successful weekend for Team WRT in the Silver Cup as well. +++
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Author.
Misano. Two Sprint races, two commanding victories: Charles
Weerts (BEL) and Kelvin van der Linde (RSA) proved unbeatable during
the GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS Sprint Cup weekend at
Misano (ITA). Driving the #32 BMW M4 GT3 EVO for Team WRT, they
claimed victory in both the Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon
races, taking over the lead in the Sprint Cup championship standings
in the process. Local hero Valentino Rossi (ITA) thrilled fans by
securing his first-ever GT World Challenge pole position in
Saturday’s qualifying session. Together with teammate Max Hesse
(GER), he finished sixth and fourth in the #46 BMW M4 GT3 EVO. Team
WRT also celebrated a successful weekend in the Silver Cup, with the
#30 BMW M4 GT3 EVO scoring one victory and one third-place finish.
In scorching summer temperatures, the second Sprint Cup weekend of
the season proved physically demanding for everyone involved. The
opening race got off to a dramatic start, with several cars making
contact. Rossi was also caught up in the incident, dropping to fourth
place, but he was able to continue. Meanwhile, Weerts stormed from
fourth on the grid into the lead, a position he and van der Linde
never relinquished. Rossi then had to serve a ten-second penalty
during the pit stop for a jump start before handing the car over to
Hesse who fought his way back to sixth place. However, a full course
yellow period followed by a safety car prevented him from gaining any
further positions in the closing stages.
On Sunday, van der Linde started from second on the grid, while Hesse
lined up fourth. They quickly settled into second and third places
respectively. Thanks to another outstanding pit stop, Team WRT managed
to move the #32 BMW M4 GT3 EVO into the lead during the tyre change
and driver swap. Weerts then drove confidently to his second victory
of the weekend. With his 20th Sprint Cup win, he also became the
outright record holder for the most victories in the history of the
Sprint Cup. Towards the end of his stint, Hesse suffered a tyre issue.
Nevertheless, both he and Rossi initially managed to hold on to third
place. Only in the closing laps was Rossi unable to fend off the
relentless pressure from Lucas Auer (AUT) in the Mercedes, leaving
Hesse and Rossi to finish fourth.
In Team WRT’s third Pro Cup entry, the #31 BMW M4 GT3 EVO, Jordan
Pepper (RSA) and Amaury Cordeel (BEL) shared driving duties. They
finished seventh in the opening race. In race two, they had worked
their way up to fifth place but received a ten-second penalty after
Pepper forced a rival off the track while battling for position. As a
result, the duo was classified tenth.
In the Silver Cup, Matisse Lismont (BEL) and Ignacio Montenegro (ARG)
celebrated victory in Saturday’s race with the Team WRT #30 BMW M4 GT3
EVO. On Sunday, they spent much of the race running second but,
following a time penalty, ultimately secured third place on the
podium. In the Gold Cup, Team KPX Motorsport finished fifth and eighth
with the #77 BMW M4 GT3 EVO. In the Bronze Cup, Augusto Farfus (BRA)
teamed up with Darren Leung (GBR) in the #991 BMW M4 GT3 EVO entered
by Paradine Competition. The pair finished fourth and eighth respectively.
Reactions after the races at Misano:
Vincent Vosse, Team Principal Team WRT: “It’s a nice
way to spend a race weekend, with two wins. It has been faultless
races from car #32. Car #46 also had a strong Saturday with Vale’s
pole position and a great Sunday, but unfortunately Max had the tyre
issue and then Vale couldn’t hold Lucas Auer, which was the quickest
car on track so we lost the podium one lap from the end. We also had a
win and a podium for the silver car, which was great. We come out of
this weekend with a lot of points, which is important.”
Charles Weerts (#32 BMW M4 GT3 EVO, Team WRT, Race 1: 1st
place, Race 2: 1st place): “It has been a great weekend
here after a pretty difficult season so far so I am really happy to
finally score some big points. Sunday’s win came down to the team.
Kelvin had a great qualifying and a great first stint, and then to
jump in and to take the lead in the box – I’m really happy and
thankful to the crew. We are definitely pleased and let’s keep it up
like this.”
Kelvin van der Linde (#32 BMW M4 GT3 EVO, Team WRT, Race 1:
1st place, Race 2: 1st place): “It was a really spectacular
weekend and I think the best possible way to come back after a
difficult start to the season. We needed that and it was well
deserved, well executed. On Sunday, we had a real challenge on our
hands and the team delivered once again and made it in the pit stop.
That made the difference in that race. We are Sprint Cup championship
leaders now, that makes us really proud. So thanks to everyone for an
amazing job.”
Max Hesse (#46 BMW M4 GT3 EVO, Team WRT, Race 1: 6th place,
Race 2: 4th place): “It was a bit of a weekend of missed
opportunities, I would say. But overall, we have to be happy with it.
We were lucky twice, because yesterday the race could have finished
immediately. And for me today, with the tyre failure, it could have
ended much worse. So getting some points is great. But obviously, it’s
a shame because we definitely had the pace to win yesterday, and to be
on the podium today for sure. And there’s no better place to do it for
Vale than at home. Unfortunately, this time the luck was not on our
side. It’s a bit of a shame, but the team did a mega job. Congrats to
car #32 for the double win – it’s great for their championship.
Magny-Cours is coming soon, so we’ll focus on that.”
Valentino Rossi (#46 BMW M4 GT3 EVO, Team WRT, Race 1: 6th
place, Race 2: 4th place): “It’s a great shame about the
missed podium, mainly because even yesterday, without the penalty, we
could have finished second. Today, at the end, I tried to resist, but
the other car was too fast and they beat me on the last lap. That’s a
great shame. We also had a problem with the tyre at the end of Max’s
stint that made us lose a few seconds. There’s nothing we could do,
but that’s how it is.”
Jordan Pepper (#31 BMW M4 GT3 EVO, Team WRT, Race 1: 7th
place, Race 2: 10th place): “I think, it was a trying
weekend for us. We maybe did not have quite the pace of #32 and #46,
although we showed a lot of promise in free practice and we did really
well. We just didn’t capitalise in qualifying and for both races had
to fight from the back. We ultimately did get two races in the points,
but it’s not where we want to be. We want to be much further up at
Magny-Cours and I think we can be. And then on the other side, just
proud of the sister car. They did a great job with the double win.”
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